Planer gauge



May 14,. 194

C. C. SCONCE' PLANER GAUGE Filed March 1.5, 1944 .5 INVENTOR.

6 1m? 6. Scones Jew ill arm with the rack 4.

Patented May 14, 1946 PATENT OFFICE P LANER GAUGE 7 h v Qharles C. Sconce, Indianapolis, Ind.

Application March 15, 1944', Serial No. 526,845

'3 Claims. (01. 33-162) This invention relates to improvements in planer gauges. It is anobject of the invention to provide such a gaugejvv'ith means for slowly'and' positively moving a. block along an inclined side 'of the gauge body in such a manner that there is no tendency for the block to be lifted at any time off the body, and wherein the coacting parts through which this movement is imparted are in constant engagement at all times.

Another object of the invention is to p v de such a planer gauge wherein two separate means are provided, both upon the block, one for imparting movement to the latter along the inclined side, and the other for locking the block at any desired position along said side.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a planer gauge which is durable yet simple to manufacture and efficient in operation,

Having thus briefly and broadly stated some of the objects and advantages of the invention I will now proceed to describe it in detail with the aid of the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a side elevation.

Figure 2 is a plan view, and

Figure Bis a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figures 4 and 5 are sections on the lines 4-4 and 5-5 respectively of Figure 3, and

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail.

Referring to the drawing, 1 designates a body having an inclined side 2 in which a longitudinal T-slot 3 is provided, and 4 denotes a rack secured uponthe base of the T-slot and extending longitudinally therein. Mounted for longitudinal sliding movement upon the inclined side 2 is a block 5 having a plurality of stepped horizontal faces 6 thereon, and apertures 1 and 8 formedv in its underside.

Extending transversely through the block 5 and supported for rotation in bearings formed therein are a spindle 9 and a shaft l fixed upon which are a pinion H and a gear [2 respectively which are in mesh with one another and are located in the aperture 1, and the gear I 2 is also in mesh One extremity of the spindle 9 projects outwardly of the block and has a knob I3 fixed thereon so that by turning it the spindle 9 and pinion I I are rotated thereby turning the gear l2 and moving it along th rack 4,

and thus advancing the block5 along the inclined side 2.

Mounted for axial movement in the aperture 8, which is preferably cylindrical, is a plunger I 4 which is hollow intermedlately of its length and provided at its lower extremity with opposed outwardly projecting ears I5 which engage opposite sides of the T-slot 3 and are longitudinally slidable therein. Secured in the upper 'endof the plunger V jection I! on; its underside,'and' formed throughone side of the plunger is a longitudinal slot 18. In threaded engagement with an aperture l9 formed through one side of the block 5 and extending through the plunger slot I8 is a screw 20 having a knob 2| on its outer extremity and a tapered inner extremity22 positioned beneath the projection ll, so that by rotating the screw 20 in one direction the projection is contacted by the tapered extremity 2'2 and the plunger M is raised thereby drawing the ears 15 into binding contact with the undersides of the T-slot 3 and holding the block 3 immovable on the inclined side 2.

The ears l5 are counterbored in their upper sides as shown at 23 to receive balls 24 which are pressed upwardly by springs 25 against the undersides of the T-slots.

From the foregoing it will be readily seen that the block 5 may be easily and accurately set upon the inclined side 2 so that one of the faces 6 is. exactly the required height, anad then by rotat-' ing the screw 20 the block may be held immovable exactly at that position. By securing the rack permanently upon thebody and mounting the pinion H and gear 12 for rotation upon the block so that the latter is in constant mesh with the rack there is no tendency for the block to be raised off the inclined face at any time, particularly since the block holding mechanism actuated through the screw 20 is entirely separate from the block moving means. Again when the screw 20 is loosened the block may be readily moved to an approximate setting along the inclined side by pushing it along rotation of the knob l3, though rotation of the latter is required for accurate setting. The spring pressed balls 24 exert sufiicient pressure against the T -slot to prevent accidental movement of the block in a downward direction when the screw 20 is loosened.

While in the foregoing the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described and shown, it is understood that alterations and modifications may be made thereto, provided they fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

15A planer gauge comprising a body having an inclined side with a T-slot extending longitudinally in 'the latter, a rack upon the base of the T-slot, an apertured block mounted for movement along the inclined side, a gear mounted for M is a head I6 having-a downward pro-. 7

and without resorting to the v rotation in one aperture in the block, said gear being in mesh with the rack, means for rotating the gear and moving the block along the inclined side, a plunger carried in another aperture in the block, ears on the plunger coacting with the T-slot, said plunger and ears being mounted in the block for movement at right angles to the inclined side of the body, means in engagement with the block for moving the plunger and drawing said ears into binding engagement with the sides of the T-slot, and spring actuated means coacting with said plunger and said body for holding said block against accidental movement along said inclined side.

2. A planer gauge comprising a body having an inclined side with a T-slot formed longitudinally in the latter, a rack mounted upon the base of the T-slot, an apertured block mounted for sliding movement along said inclined side, a gear mounted in one block aperture in mesh with the rack,

means for rotating the gear, a plunger in another block aperture mounted for axial movement therein, laterally projecting ears on said plunger extending into opposite sides of the T-slot, means carried by said block for moving the plunger, and spring actuated means coacting with the ears and with said body for holding said block against accidental movement along said inclined side.

3. A planer gauge including a body having an inclined side with a T-slot extending longitudinally in the latter, a rack mounted upon the base of the T-slot, a block having two apertures formed in its underside, said block being mounted for movement upon said inclined side, a gear meshing with the rack mounted for rotation within one block aperture, means extending through the block for rotating said gear, a plunger axixally movable in the other aperture and having laterally projecting ears at its lower extremity slidable in the T-slot, resilient means carried by said ears and engaging the sides of the T-slot to prevent accidental movement of the block along the inclined side, and means carried by the block for raising the plunger whereby the ears are drawn into intimate contact with the T-slot and the block is held immovable on the body.

CHARLES C. SCONCE. 

